Apparatus for folding fabrics



Sept. 29, 1953 s. coHN l-:rAL

APPARATUS Foa FOLDING FABRICS Filed Sept. 16, 1949 4 Sheetg-Sheet 1TORNEYS s. col-IN ETAL APPARATUS FOR FOLDING FABRICS sept. 29, 1953 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 16, 1949 L9 weer s BY Sept. 29, 1953 s. coHNErAL APPARATUS Foa FOLDING FABRICS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 16, 1949Sept. 29, 1953 s. coHN ETAL 2,653,812

APPARATUS FOR FOLDING FABRICS Filed Sept. 16, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG.vff

QM@ aww ATTRNEYS Patented Sept. 29, 1953 APPARATUS FOR FOLDING FABRICSSamuel Cohn and Jules G. Walter, New York,

N. Y., assignors to Samcoe Holding Corporation, Woodside, L. I., N. Y.,a corporation of New York Application September 16, 1949, Serial No.116,174

(Cl. W70-79) 14 Claims.

This invention relates to textile machinery and particularly to anapparatus for folding fabrics.

In the handling of textile fabrics, they are subjected to variousfinishing operations such, for example, as steaming and calendering orironing. Often the fabric is then rolled on a mandrel. However, tofacilitate subsequent handling, it is often desirable to fold ratherthan to roll the fabric. Folding apparatus has been devised heretofore,but it is not entirely satisfactory, since it does not produce a pile ofuniform layers of the fabric.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a mechanism whichfolds the web of fabric uniformly at each end of its stroke, affording azigzag pile of fabric with the folded edges smoothed and laid accuratelyone upon the other.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a mechanism whichcontinues to perform its function accurately as the pile of fabricincreases in thickness, without manual adjustment.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means forsmoothing the edges of the fabric as it is folded, which isself-adjusting so that the mechanism applies equal pressure to thesuccessive folded edges as the pile of folded layers increases inthickness.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means affording auniform drive for the folding mechanism during adjustment thereof to theincreasing pile of fabric;

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it isbetter understood by reference to the following specification andaccompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is a side elevation of themachine;

Fig. 2 is a plan View thereof;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a portion of the machine; and

Fig. 6 is a detail in section showing a portion of the structure of Fig.5.

In carrying out the present invention, the fabric may be delivered fromany machine in which it has been treated, such as a steam applicator andcalender rolls, as shown, for example, in the Cohn and Walter Patent No.2,187,644. This, however, is not a part of the present invention, whichis adapted to handle material which has .been previously treated in anydesired manner.

From the treating mechanism the material is delivered by any suitableconveyor to a distributor which swings through a predetermined arc.

The distributor delivers the web of fabric to a table suitably disposedbeneath it. As the distributor swings back and forth and the fabric isfed in predetermined timed relation, the distributor folds the fabricupon itself at the end of each stroke, laying down successive layers ofthe fabric, which is folded at a line parallel to the distributor at theend of its stroke. Thereupon a roller which is rotated on arms in acomplete arc of 360 engages the fabric near the fold and rolls along thefabric toward the line of the fold, smoothing the fabric and creasingthe edge of the fold in a straight line. Two such rollers are providedat opposite ends of the folding mechanism, and the rollers are timed toengage the fabric after each fold is made, so that the successive layersof the fabric are laid down, smoothed and creased at each end of thepile.

In order that the smoothing and creasing mechanism may be self-adjustingto exert the same pressure as the pile increases in thickness, therotating arms and smoothing rollers are mounted on a floating framewhich is supported and counterbalanced so that if adjusted by theoperator too closely to the top of the pile, the floating frame issimply lifted when one of the smoothing rollers engages the fabric.Thereafter, as each layer of fabric is superposed on preceding layers,the floating frame is lifted slightly to accommodate the added thicknessof the pile, and each succeeding layer is subjected to rolling pressureprecisely of the same magnitude. Such operation continues to the limitof the capacity ofthe apparatus, which is designed to accommodate a pileof fabric of certain depth or thickness.

Referring to the drawing, 5 indicates a frame of suitable structuralmetal to support the parts of the machine. Upright members B at one endof the frame 5 support horizontal Vbeams 1, and braces 8 are provided tosustain the Weight of the mechanism on the beams 1.

Suitable driving means, such as a motor 9, is mounted on the frame 5,and a pulley I 0 thereon is connected by a belt II to a pulley I2 on ashaft I3 extending ytransversely of the frame 5. On the other end of theshaft I3, a variable speed pulley I4 is mounted and is connected by a V-belt I5 to a pulley I6 on a shaft II extending transversely of the frame5. A plurality of steam pipes I8 are disposed transversely of the frame5 and are adapted to direct steam upon the web I9 of fabric. The fabricthen passes between the calender rolls 20, one of which is mounted onthe shaft Il and the other directly above it,

and is thus smoothed and finished. As already indicated, this particularpart of the mechanism is merely illustrative, and other types oftreating devices may be substituted therefor.

The web I9 is delivered to a conveyor which, as shown, comprises aplurality of slats 2| mounted on endless chains 22 which pass aboutsprockets 23 and 24 on shafts 25 and 26, suitably supported in the frameand on the beams 1. As the web is delivered to the slats of theconveyor, it forms loops between the slats, avoiding any tension on theweb. The conveyor is driven to travel, in the directions indicated bythe arrows on Fig. l, by a chain 21 engaging the sprocket 24 and asprocket 28 supported on a shaft 29. The shaft 29 is driven by a chain3|) engaging a sprocket 3| on the shaft 29 and a sprocket 32 on a shaft33 carrying a variable speed pulley 34. A V-belt connects the variablespeed pulley 34 with a pulley 36 on the shaft |1. The belt 35 passesover idler rollers 35 and 36 on a bracket 31 which may be adjusted tovary the speed of the pulley 34.

The web is delivered from the conveyor to a distributor 31 whichcomprises arms pivotally mounted for swinging movement on a shaft 38which is mounted on brackets 39 at the ends of the beams 1. Thedistributor 31 is connected by links 40 to arms 4| secured to a shaft 42extending across the beams 1. The shaft 42 is driven through a sprocket43 which is connected by a chain 44 to a sprocket 45 on the shaft 46.The latter is driven by a chain 41 engaging sprockets 48' and 49 on theshafts 46 and l1. As the shaft 42 rotates, the arms 4| swing in circles,thereby actuating the links 40 to swing the distributor 31 about itspivotal shaft 38.

A sprocket 46 on the shaft 26 is connected by a chain 41 to a sprocket48 on the shaft 38. An endless belt (Fig. 4) 49 connects a pulley 50 onthe shaft 38 with rollers 5| and 52 and an idler 53 on the distributor31. Thus the rollers 5| and 52 are driven in unison with the conveyorwhich carries the web to the distributor. The web passes between therollers 5| and 52 and, as the distributor swings from side to side, theweb is laid upon a table 54 which is supported in a frame comprisingposts 55 at the corners of the table.

Referring particularly to Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawing, a floating frame56 is supported at its corners in sliding engagement with the posts 55and ls adapted to move up and down thereon, guided by the rollers 55(Fig. 6) and therefore substantially without friction. At the corners,screws 51 engage the floating frame 5S and are connected by links 58 toflexible members 6s which pass over pulleys 60 mounted at the upper endsof the posts 55. Weights 6| are secured to the flexible members 59within the posts 55 and serve to counterbalance the weight of thefloating frame 56 so that it may move freely in either direction uponthe application of slight force.

Transverse shafts 62 and 63 are mounted at the ends of the floatingframe 56 and carry arms 64 and with rollers 66 and 61 mounted thereon.The arms 64 and 65 are arranged to travel so that the arms 64 move in aclockwise direction while the arms 65 travel in a counterclockwisedirection to bring the rollers 66 and 61 successively into contact withthe web as it is folded onto the table 54. Rotation is effected by acha-in 68 engaging sprockets 69 and 10 on the shafts 62 and 63. As willbe noted, the chain is crossed to effect the opposite rotation of thetwo shafts.

The shaft 63 is driven by a chain 1| which engages a sprocket 12 thereonand a sprocket 13 on a shaft 14 supported at one end of an arm 15 whichis connected at its opposite end to the float ing frame 56. An arm 16 ispivotally connected to the arm 15 and is pivotally mounted on the shaft42. A counterweight 11 is mounted on the free end of the arm 16 topermit adjustment and balancing of the mechanism. A chain 18 connects asprocket 19 on the shaft 13 with a sprocket on the shaft 42 which isdriven, as hereinbefore described, by the sprocket 43. By means of theelbow construction last described, the driving connection is maintainedto the arms 64 and 65 regardless of the position of the floating frame56. Thus, as the floating frame 56 rises, when the pile of fabricaccumulates, the elbow drive shifts its position, but the drivingconnection and the synchronism of the mechanism are maintained.

As will be readily understood from the foregoing description andparticularly with reference to Figs. 1 and 5 of the drawing, the web offabric delivered to the distributor 31 passes between the rollers 5| and52 and, as the distributor swings from one edge of the table to theother, the advancing fabric is laid down and folded at the ends on linesparallel to the axes of the rollers 5| and 52. As each fold is made, theroller 66 or 61, as the case may be, is brought downwardly into contactwith the folded fabric, moves toward the folded edge, smoothes thefabric, and creases the fabric at the edge. The rollers 66 and 61 alwaysmove toward the folded edge and thus ensure smooth folding of the fabricat the edges and the production of a 4pile of folds with the edgessubstantially uniform.

1n initiating the operation of the machine, the operator simply pushesthe floating frame 56 downwardly to the limit of its travel. As soon asa fold of fabric is laid down and the roller 6G or l comes into contacttherewith, the floating frame is lifted until a uniform pressure isexerted by the roller upon the fabric. As each fold is successivelylaid, the roller 66 or 61 engages the fabric with the same uniformpressure, the floating frame rising gradually with each successiveoperation only to the extent equal to the thickness of each layer offabric laid down with each successive operation. No adjustment isnecessary because of varying thickness of the fabric treated. Themechanism compensates automatically for varying thickness of the fabrictreated.

The apparatus as described affords a means for accurately folding a webof textile fabric into a pile of superposed layers, with the foldededges uniform and laid upon each other. When the floating frame 56reaches the upper limit of its travel, the fabric must be removed fromthe table 54 and a new pile of fabric may then be laid thereon.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction andarrangement without departing from the invention or sacrificing theadvantages thereof.

We claim:

1. In a folding machine for textile material, an immovable table, adistributor, means for swinging the distributor above the table to laythe textile material in successive folds on the table, a frame abovesaid table and vertically movable within a predetermined range ofmovement, counterbalance means secured to said frame and effective tolend support to the frame throughout its range of vertical movement, androtating means on the frame operating in timed relation with thedistributor to engage and 5 smooth each layer of textile materialadjacent the edges of the folds.

2. In a folding machine for textile material, an immovable table, adistributor, means for swinging the distributor above the table to laythe textile material in successive folds on the table, a frame abovesaid table and vertically movable within a predetermined range ofmovement, counterbalance means secured to said frame and effective tolend support to the frame throughout its range of vertical movement,rotating means on the frame operating in timed relation with thedistributor to engage and smooth each layer of textile material adjacentthe edges of the folds, the frame being adapted to automatically adjustthe position of the smoothing means as each additional fold is laid andto maintain uniform pressure on the successive folds.

3. In a folding machine for textile material, an immovable table, adistributor swinging in an arc above the table to lay the textilematerial in successive folds on the table, a frame above said table andvertically movable within a predetermined range of movement,counterbalance means secured to said frame and effective to support theframe throughout its range of vertical movement, and means operating intimed relation with the distributor to press the edge of each fold afterit is laid.

4. In a folding machine for textile material, an immovable table, adistributor, means for swinging the distributor through a predeterminedarc to lay the textile material in successive folds on the table, avertically movable frame supported f,

above the table, balancing means connected to the frame to sustain aportion of the weight thereof throughout the range of vertical movementof the frame, rotatable arms on the frame and rollers carried by thearms and adapted to engage the fabric adjacent the edge of each fold andto smooth and crease the fabric at the edge of the fold.

5. In a folding machine for textile material, an immovable table, adistributor, means for swinging the distributor through a predeterminedarc to lay the textile material in successive folds on the table, aframe supported above the table and vertically movable within apredetermined range of movement, counterbalance means secured to saidframe and effective to support the frame throughout its range ofvertical movement, rotatable arms on the frame and rollers carried bythe arms, and means for rotating the arms in timed relation to thedistributor causing the l' rollers to engage the fabric adjacent theedge of each fold and to smooth and crease the fabric at the edge of thefold.

6. In a folding machine for textile material, an immovable table, adistributor, means for swinging the distributor through a predeterminedarc to lay the textile material in successive folds on the table, aframe supported above the table and vertically movable within apredetermined range of movement, counterbalance means secured to saidframe and effective to support the frame throughout its range ofvertical movement, rotatable arms on the frame, rollers carried by thearms and adapted to engage the fabric adjacent the edge of each fold andto smooth and crease the fabric at the edge-of the fold, and means forfeeding the textile material to the distributor.

'7. In a folding machine for textile material, an immovable table, adistributor mounted for swinging movement above the table, -driven rollson the distributor between which the textile material is fed, means forswinging the distributor in a predetermined arc whereby the textilematerial is laidupon the table in successive folds, a frame above thetable and vertically movable within a predetermined range of movement,counterbalance means secured to said frame and effective to support theframe throughout its range of vertical movement, means on the frame toengage and smooth the textile material after each fold is laid, anddriving connections having an elbow joint to actuate the smoothingmeans.

8. In a folding machine for textile material, an immovable table, adistributor mounted for swinging movement above the table, driven rollson the distributor between which the textile material is fed, means forswinging the distributor in a predetermined arc whereby the textilematerial is laidupon the table in successive folds, a vertically movableframe above the table, counterweights connected to and partiallysupporting the frame to sustain a portion of the weight thereofthroughout the range of vertical movement of the frame, and means on theframe to engage and smooth the textile material after each fold is laid.

9. In a folding machine for textile material, an immovable table, adistributor mounted for swinging movement above the table, driven rollson the distributor between which the textile mad after each fold islaid, consisting of rotatable arms and rollers supported by the arms.

1G. In a folding machine for textile material, an immovable table, adistributor mounted for swinging movement above the table, driven rollson the distributor, means for swinging the distributor in apredetermined arc, means for feeding the textile material to thedistributor, a frame above the table and vertically movable within apredetermined range of movement, counterbalance means secured to saidframe and effective to support the frame throughout its range ofvertical movement, two pairs of rotating arms on the frame, rollerssupported between each pair of arms, and driving connections having anelbow joint for rotating the arms respectively in clockwise andcounterclockwise directions at opposite sides of the frame whereby therollers engage and smooth the successive layers of textile material asit is laid on the table.

11. In a folding machine for textile material, an immovable table, adistributor mounted for swinging movement above the table, driven roll-son the distributor, means for swinging the distributor in apredetermined arc, means for feeding the textile material to thedistributor, a vertically movable frame above the table, counterweightsconnected to and partially supporting the frame to sustain a portion ofthe Weight thereof throughout the range of vertical movement of theframe, two pairs of rotating arms on the frame, rollers supportedbetween each pair of arms, and means for rotating the arms respectivelyin clockwise and counterclockwise directions at opposite sides of theframe whereby the rollers engage and smooth the successive layers 7 oftextile mote/rial Aas it is laid on the table.

12. In a folding machine lor textile material. on immovable table, edistributor swinging in an oro Above the table, a. frame supported abovethe table and vertically movable within a predetermined range ofmovement, eounterbolance means seemed to said frame and effective tosupport the frame throughout its range of vertical movement, androtating means supported on the frame and operating in timed relation tothe distributor tn engage and smooth the edges of the folds of eachlayer ot the material as it is delivered.

13. In o folding machine for textile material, an immovable table, adistributor mounted for swinging movement above the table, means forswinging the distributor, an upwardly movable ironie supported above thetable and vertically movable within a predetermined range of movemont,counterbalanee means secured to said frame and effective to support theframe throughout its ronge of vertical movement, driven means thereon toengage and smooth the fabric as it is laid on the table, and a drivingconnection for the driven means including an elbow Joint joint.

SAMUEL COHN. JULES G. WALTm References Cited in the file of this patentUNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date I 592,264 Wadsworth Qct. 26. 1897966,760 Mutschler Aug. 9, 1910 2,265,458 Staiord et al. Dec. 9, 19412,395,983 Wyrick Mar. 5, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 963Great Britain May 30, 1912

